Shockless rail-crossing



E. L. v. HOWELL. L SHOCKLESS RAIL CROSSING. APPLICATION FILEDVJUNE 20. i921.

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L Ivey/z Uff/675 E. L. V. HOWELL. SHOCKLESS RAIL CROSSING. `APPL|cATlQN FILED JUNE 20.1921.

Nov. 8, 1921. 2 SHEETS-snuit z.

Patented UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

EVELYN L.

v.`HOw`ELE, or Los CALIFORNIA, AssIGNOE OF ONE-HALF 'ro HERMAN im soHnOEDTEn, OE Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. p

sHOoKLEss EAIEOEOSSING.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EVELYN L. V. HOWELL, citizen of the United States, residin in Los Angeles, countyofLos Angeles, tate of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in `Shockless Rail-Crossings, of which the following isa specification. `This invention has to do with a shockless rail intersection or crossing and it is an object of the invention to provide a simple, effective improved structure of this char e acter.

operated by the crossing track. 215` provide a A particular objectofthe invention is to simple yet positive shockless rail crossing; In `carrying out this object a structure has been provided which is positive and` reliable in. operation and is` simple,

durable and inexpensive of construction.

A noteworthy feature of the invention is thelprovision` of' a simple structure ofthe character specified which will be positively a car or the like approaching from either direction on either ,f The' various objectsandfeatures `of the invention will be bestand more fully undei-stood from the following detailed descriptiouof atypical embodiment of the ini vention throughout whichreference is had l lj i thepurpose of disclosing the invention in its to they accompanying. drawings in which- Figurellsis a planview of' a typicalytrack intersection embodying thepresent invention, the cover plate being removed for the purpose of showingthe mechanism provided by; the invention; Fig.` 2 is a vertical detail sectional view taken as indicated by line "2f-2 `on-Fig. 1; `Fig. Sis a view similar to Fig. `2B showing theimechanism in another position; Figfi is a vertical detailfsectional view taken as indicated by line L-donFig 2; Figi 5 is a verticaldetail sectional `view .g 6 is an enlarged-plan View of a `portion of the "structureshownin Fig. 5 beingr lla 1.view taken as indicatednby line 6 6` on Fig.

aand Fig. 7 isanenlarged view of a portion of thestructure shownnin Fig. `5.

Throughout thewdrawings letters T and Tf; designate intersecting tracks `each of which comprises two parallel-rails l0; For

simplest form L am` illustrating it as applied to an intersection `at which `the :two tracks i cross at riglitangles with each other it being understood, holwever,` thatthe invention may Specification of Letters Patent.

be applied to intersections wherein the `tracks cross at various angles. In accordance with the present invention each rail is formed with a space where it is intersected by another rail. These spaces are to accommodate wheel flanges and will be hereinafter termed Hange spaces. `As ,each rail 1() is intersected by two other rails there are two `flange spaces in each rail and there are two flange spaces at each rail intersection, one in `each of the intersectingrails. For` each flange space there is a movable member A comprising an farm20, a plug 13 at the end ofthe "arm, an extension 14, a neck 15 connecting the plug and extension, and a toothed segment 16 at the end ofthe extension. `The arms 203 are pivotally connected to the sides of'. the rails by pivot pins 12 at pointsf spaced considerably outward of the rail intersections. The arms extend in-V wardly from the pivot pins so that the plugs,

which are attheir` ends, are at the flangeV spaces. The arms being pivotally connected tothe rails are movable to an up position `where `the plugs fill the flange spaces `and sition. When the `arms are in the down position their upper surfaces are substantially horizontal.` When` the arms or movable members, in lconnection with the rails of one track are upV the flange spaces in the rails fof the other track are `filled so that wheels can pass over them withoutshock or jar.

The movable members in connection with eachjrail are positively connected together so that operation of one will cause `operation of the other and so that they are always inthe same operative positions. The movablemembers of each 4rail aredirectly connetted` by the meshing of the toothed segments 16 atthe ends of the extensions 14. The manner in` which the segmentsof `the movable membersmesh or coperate to directly connect thetwo movable members of Patented Nov. 8, 1921.

Application filed June 20, 1921. Serial No.` 478,836. l I

eachrail is clearly illustrated in the drawings. The necks 15 of the movable members at each rail intersection are shaped and 'proportioned so that the members can be moved up and down in the manner above described without interfering` with each other. The extensions 14 are connected to the plugs 13 by the necks' 15, so that their upper' surfaces 18 are in line with the upper surfaces 19 of the arms 20.

The two movable members at each rail intersection are connected together so that one is up when the other is down, and so that when one is moved or operated the other ismoved or-operated in the opposite direction. The connection between the two members comprises two racks 30, one in connection with each of the members, and a pinion 31 engaged by the racks. The racks 30 are connected to the members by pins 34carried linslots 35 in the members, and face each other so that they-engage opposite sides of the pinion. The racks 30of the two members are relatively positioned in engagement with the pinion so that the two membersare in oppositeV positions, that is, so` that one of the members is up while the Qther'is down. Movement of onev of the .members will, through the racks and pinion, cause4 opposite movement of the other member. The racks 30 can, of course, be

l' guided in any suitable manner to cause them 'y carried by suitable track TA in either gage downwardly causing' movement to .properly engage and coperate with the pinion.V 'For instance they can be provided witli-..extensionsl 38 adapted to be slidably stationary guides 39. `The pinions 31 are carried-on shafts 40 supported by Vsuitable bearings 41. Each of the Y shafts 40 carriestwo Vpinions 31 and thereforeffurther interconnectthe various parts of the mechanism.V i g `A` pit B -is provided at the crossing to carry various parts Vof the mechanism in the manner 'clearly il ustrated in the drawings and suitablesupports are arranged in the pit .toffcarry'a coverplate (not shown) for the pit.` Y'

operationv when the mechanismis in theposition shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7 ofthe drawings wheels can pass over the direction without shock. The flanges cfrwheels passing over track T in either` direction will engage an arm 2O inV connection `with-each rail of track Tas the wheels vapproach. the crossing. The flanges force orpush the arms that they eio al lof '..the members Av inv connection with 'the rails of. track 1T*to the down position due tols'the interconnections i above -described When the membersAl inconnection with are Vdown* the 'flange spaces in the rails of'track T'areunrestricted. The movementof themembersA in connection with trackT t0 the down positionV causes movetrack T to the up .each rail comprising,

ment of the members A in connection with position because of the interconnections above described. When the members A in connection with track T are up the flange spaces in track T are filled so the wheels can pass over track T without shock or jar. When the mechanism has been operated in the manner just described it is positively held in the operated position as long as there is a wheel at the crossing on track T. The wheels at the crossing positively hold the mechanism by engaging and holding down the arms 2O and extensions 14 of the members in connection with the rails of the track on which the wheels fore it reaches them. It will be understood of course that the arms may be made comparatively long so that the operation of the mechanism will be comparatively slow and to assure complete operation before the wheels reach the flange spaces. It will be obvious how the mechanism will be operated back to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7, of the drawings by wheels on track T.

F rom the foregoing description it will be understood how the present invention provides a particularly simple, durable, reliable mechanism. The interconnection of the various parts of the mechanism through the toothed segments 16, the racks and pinions, and the shafts 40 positively assures complete operation` of every part of the mechanism and thus makes the mechanism effective and reliable. A particular feature of the invention is the simple compact inexpensive manner in which the various parts are interconnected.

Iaving described only a preferred form of my invention I do not wish to limit inyself to the particular details hereinabove set forth but wish to reserve to myself any changes or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and that'may fall within the scope of the following claims.

aving described apreferred form of my invention, I claim:

1. In combination with two intersecting railsvhaving flange spaces at the intersection, a movable member in connection with an arm having an up position where it will be engaged by the flange of a wheel passing over the rail toward the intersection and adapted to be moved to a down position by t-he flange, and aplug carried by the arm to lill the flange space in the other rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm is down, and means connecting the two members in opposite positions and so that they operate each other.

2. In combinationwith two intersecting rails having flange spaces at the intersection, a movable member in connection with each rail comprising, an arm having an up posi tion where it will be engaged by 'the flange of a wheel passing over the rail toward the intersection and adapted to be movedto a down position by the flange, and al plug carried by the arm to fill the flange space in the other rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm is down, and mechanical means connecting the two members in opposite positions and so that they operate each other.

`3. In combination with two intersecting rails having flange spaces at the intersection, a movable memberin connection with each rail comprising, `an arm having an up position where it :will be engaged by the flange of a wheel passing over the rail toward the intersection and adapted to-` be moved to a down positionby the flange, and a plug carried by the arm to fill the flange space in the other rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm is down, and rack and pinion mechanism connecting the two members in opposite positions and so that they operate each other. i l

4. In combination with two intersecting i rails having flange spaces at the intersection,

a movable member in connection with each rail comprising, an arm having an up position where it will be engaged by the flangeof a wheel passingover the railtoward the intersection and adapted to be moved to a down position by the flange,"`anda `plug carried by the arm to fill the flange space in the other rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm is down,a pinion having a fixed axis of rotatipn, and a rack in connection with each movable member, the racks being arranged in engagement with opposite sides of the pinion with the movable members in oppo- 1 site positions.

5. In combination with two intersecting rails having flange spaces at the intersection, a movable member in connection with each rail comprising,an-arm pivotally connected tothe lrail at a point` substantially removed from the intersection and arranged to ex# tend toward the intersection, the arm having an `up position where it will be engaged bythe flange of a wheel passing over the rail toward the intersection to be moved to a down position .by the flange, and a plugcarried by the arm to` fill the `flange space in the other. rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange'space unrestricted when the arm is u down, a pinion. having a fixedA axis of rotation, a rack connected to each movable member, the racks being arranged 1n engagement with opposite sides of the pinion with `the movable members in opposite positions,

and means for guiding the racks to cooper ate with the pinion.

6. In combination with two intersecting tracks each comprising two parallel rails with a Harige space at each rail intersection, a movable member in connection with each rail at each rail intersection comprising an arm having an up position where it will be engaged by the flange of a wheel passing over the rail toward the intersection and adapted to be moved by the flange to a down position, anda plug carried by the arm to fill the flange space in an intersecting rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm is down, and means connecting the two movable members of each rail so that they operate together.

7. In combination with two intersecting tracks each comprising two parallel rails with a flange space at each rail intersection, a movable member in connection with each rail at each rail intersection comprising an arm having an up position where it will be engaged by the flange of a wheel passing over the rail toward the intersection and adapted to be moved by the flange to a down position, and a plug carried by the arm to fill the flange space in an intersecting rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm is down, and means directly connecting the two mov able members of each rail so that they operate together.

8. In combination with two intersecting tracks each comprising two parallel rails with a flange space at each rail intersection, a movable member in connection with each rail at each rail intersection comprising an arm having an up position where it will be engaged by the ange of a wheel passing over the rail toward the intersection and adapted to be `moved by the flange to a down position, a plug carried by the arm to fill the flange space in an intersecting rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm is down, and a toothed segment at the inner end of the movable member, `the toothed segments of the two movable members of each rail coperating so that said movable members are directly connected to operate together. -9.In combination with `two intersecting tracks each comprising two parallel rails with a flange space at each rail intersection, a movable `member in connection with each rail at each rail intersection comprising an armhaving an up position where it will be engaged by the flange of a wheel passing over the rail `toward the intersection and adapted to be moved by the flange t0 a down position, a plug carried by the arm to fill the flange spacein an intersecting rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm is down, means iis ytion so that they operate connectingY the two movable members of each rail so that they operate together, and means connecting the two movablemembers at each rail intersection so that they operate oppositely.

10. In combination with two intersecting tracks each comprising two parallel rails with a flange space atv each rail intersection, a movable member in connection with each rail at each rail intersection comprising an arm having an up position where it will be engaged by the flange of a wheel passing over the rail toward the intersection and adapted to be moved by the flange to a down position, a plug carried by the arm to fill the flange space in an intersecting rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm is down, means positively connecting the two movable members of each rail so'that they operate together, and means' positively connecting the two movable members at each rail intersecoppositely.

11. In combination with two intersecting tracks each comprising two parallel rails with aflange space at each rail intersection, a movable member in connection with each rail at each rail intersection comprising an arm having an up position where it will be engaged by the flange of a wheel passing over the rail toward the intersection and adapted to be moved by the flange to a down position, a plug carried by the arm to fill the flange space in an intersecting rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm is down, and means interconnecting the movable members so that the arm of those in connection with .one track are up while the arms of those'in connection with the other track are down.

12. In combination with two rails having flange spaces, a movable member in connecion with each rail comprising, an arm having an `up position where it will be engaged by the flangeof a wheel passing over the rail Aand adapted to be moved to a down position by the flange, and aplug carried by the arm to lill a flange space when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm isdown, and a rack andpinion mechanism connecting the two 'members so'that they operate each other.

13. In combination with two intersecting tracks each 'comprising two parallel rails with a flange space at eachrail intersection, a movable member in connection with each rail at'each rail intersection comprising an arm having an up position where it will be engaged by the flange of a wheel passing over the rail toward the intersection and adapted tobe moved by the flange to a down position, and a plug carried by the arm to fill`the flange space in an intersecting rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm is down, the two movable members in connection with each rail being adapted to be moved by the flanges of wheels passing over the rai] in opposite directions, and means connecting the two movable members of each rail so that they operate together.

14. In combination with two intersecting tracks each comprising two parallel rails with a flange space at each rail intersection, a movable member in connection with each rail at each rail intersection comprising an arm having an up position where it will be engaged by the flange of a wheel passing over the rail toward the intersection and adapted to be moved by the flange to a down position, a plug carried by the arm to fill the flange space in an intersecting rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm is down, and a toothed segment at the inner end of the movable member, the toothed segments of the two movable members of each rail cooperating so that said movable members are directly connected to operate together, the movable members in connection with each rail being oppositely disposed so that one of them is engaged by the flanges of wheels ap` proaching the intersection in one direction while the other is engaged bythe flanges of wheels approaching the intersection in the other direction.

15. In combination with two intersecting tracks each comprising two parallel rails with a flange space at each rail intersection, a movable member in connection with each rail at each rail intersection comprising, an arm having an up position where it will be engaged by the flange of a wheel passing over the rail toward the intersection and adapted to be moved by the flange to a down position, a plug carried by the arm to fill the flange space in an intersecting rail when the arm is up and to leave said flange space unrestricted when the arm is d own, and a toothed segment at the end of the member, the toothed segments of the two members of each rail coperating so that said movable members are ldirectly connected to operate together and one from the other, a pinion at each railV intersection, the pinions having fixed axes of rotation, a rack connected to each movable member, the racks at each rail intersection'being arranged in engagement with opposite sides of the pinion with the movable members of that intersection in opposite positions, and means for guiding the racks to coperate with the pinions.

In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 14th day of June, 1921.

- i EVELYN L. V. HOWELL.

Witness:

VIRGINIA BERINGER. 

